Spring bed



April 429, 1924.

F 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. A?. C'fe/zcrZLZ SPRING BED C. B. CHENAULT Filed Oct. 2, 1922 pri 29 1924., 1,492,07Q Y n c. B. CHENAULT f SPRING BED Y Filed Oct. 2A 1922 m m m ccLBY B. cnnNAULT, or NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SPRING BED.

Application filed October 2,' 1922. Serial No. 591,835.

To all whom t may cof/wem:

Be it knownthat I, CoLBY B. CHENAULT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashville, inthe county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Beds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring beds and its primary Objectis to provide improved and efficient means whereby weight placed upon the spring mattress or bed bottom may be equalized and sagging of the said mattress or bed bottom at one side will be prevented. Another obj ect of the invention is to provide improved means for supporting the equalizing members, and also to provide novel means for maintaining the supporting springs in fixed positions. Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the head and foot frames may be brought into a compact position against the mattress supporting frame to facilitate storage and transportation of the bed, and the invention seeks to improve generally the construction of a bed to increase the eliciency, durability and strength of the same without increase iny the cost of manufacture. All these stated objects, and other objects which will incidentally appear in the course of the following description, are attained in a structure such as that illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure l is a side elevation, with some of the parts broken away, of a bed embodying my present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; f

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the means for supporting the equalizing levers and retaining the supporting springs in position; i

Fig. 4 is an Venlarged perspective view of a bracket which is employed to support the ends of the side bars of the bed bottom;

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail perspective views of theclips which secure the base of the bed bottom supporting springs;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective View of the device for securing the upper end of the said supporting spring, and y Fig. 8is a detail perspective view showing a form of support especially designed for attaching the bed bottoni to a wooden bed frame. f

The bedstead comprises a head frame l, a foot frame 2, and an intermediate bedbottom-supporting frame 3. The said frame 3 consists of side bars and end bars rigidly connecting the side bars, all said members being constructed of angle iron, as shown and as will be readily understood. To connect the said intermediate supporting frame 3 with the head and foot frames, I employ `links 4: which are pivoted to the side bars of the frame 3 and also to the head vand foot frames, respectively, near the lower ends of the sides thereof' whereby, when the bed is set up for use, these links will assume Va diagonal or inclined position and will act as braces to prevent collapse of the bed. This position is shown in full lines in Fig. l. I also employ upper shorter links 5 which are each pivoted at one end to the head or foot frame, as the case may be, and atits opposite end to the adjacent side bar of the intermediate frame 3. Stop lugs 6 of any convenient or preferred form are provided on the sides of the frame 3 above the links 5 so that the upward movement of the links will be prevented and the pivotal connections at the ends of these links are so disposed that, when the bed is set up, these links will lie in horizontal planes approximately coincident with the lower edges of the side bars. The lugs 6 prevent relative downward movement of the intermediate frame 3 inasmuch as they rest upon the upper edges of the link 5 when the b-ed is set up,`as clearly shown in Fig. l, and therefore, when the bed is setup it will be firm and steady and may be used 'freely without any fear of collapse. At the same time the head and foot frames may be readily folded into positions below the intermediate frame 3, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, and to accomplish this result, it is necessary merely to swingr the respective frames inwardly at their lower ends `so that the said lower ends will extend under and be brought close to the frame 3. This foldability of the bed frame is especially advantageous when a large number of the beds are to be stored or Y Y transported. p

Extending across the ends of the intermediate frame 3 are rails 7 which are preferably of angleiron, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, the extremities of the horizontal webs or lianges of these rails being turned downlil STI

wardly V'and rigidly secured to the outer sides of thek sides of the frame 3, as shown at The rails will thus be secured to the supf porting frame 3 and will rest Adirectly thereon so that a very rigid and strong support be'noted that the connecting bolts 9 are pro-Y vided at the ends of the rails 7 and at points between the ends and the center thereof. The inner boltsV constitute Vfulcrums .for the equalizing levers 11 which are engaged upon said bolts between the rails and arranged parallel therewith, the outer Vends of the said levers extending upwardly, asshown at 12, and the inner ends thereof being-connected by links 13, it being noted that the inner ends of the levers overlap and thelinks 13 are disposed normally upon vertical lines. To maintain the levers centrally between the rails 7, I provide aspaoingsleeveor collar 14 at each side of each lever upon the bolt constituting the fulcrum'ofthe same.; To the outer ends of the equalizing levers, I pivotally connect thelower ends of links 15 which have their upper endspivoted to a lug lextending laterally from a bracket V17 which provides means Vfor securing the ends of the side brace bar 18 and also means for supporting the said bars andthe bed bottom upon the supporting springs 19. The

springs. 19 are Vpreferably conical helical springs vhaving their bases or lower ends resting upon the rails 7 and their upper ends disposed below and connected withthe vbrackets 17 one of the springs 19 being provided at each corner of the frame 3. To secure the'bases of the springs 19 infixed position upon the rails, I providefclips 20' which are secured rigidly against the side of one rail 7 adjacent'the end thereof and consists of Vflat plates having overhanging lips 21 at their upper ends which are adapted to engage over the coil of the spring.V

As shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, the clip extends upwardly at the innerside of the base or lowest coil of the spring and the lip 21 projects outwardly over the said coilso as to firmly engage the same and hold it to the rail. The clip 20 is provided upon the inner rail 7, and upon the outer lrail'7 I secure the clip 22`which also consists ofa flat plate secured against the vertical Vweb ofthe adiacentrail but is wider than the previously described clip and is provided at itsupper edge withk an overhanging elongatedlip 23 extending beyond the ends 'of theplate, as clearly shown.r The projecting ends of the elongated lip 23 will extend overthe lowest coil of the spring 1:9, as :Shown `jin.

tively and effectually prevented.

relation. The lendrbars vversely of the bed and constitute the end Fig. 3, so as to bear firmly upon the upper side of the same and clamp it against the upper edge of the rail. spring is thus secured positively against the supporting rails at three spaced points and shifting of the Vspring upon the rail is posi- It will be readily noted that the clips 20 and 22. are secured to the rails by the same bolts `which holdVV the rails in fixed relation. At the upper end of each spring V19, I employ the attaching `block or clamp 24 shown'in detail in Fig.'7. This block consists of-"a hub or 'cylindrical central lmember 25 and an annular flange or Vrib 26v atV the lower end of said hub,.tl1e said The base of the l flange or rib having a passage 27 formed therethrough at an angle to the radius of the hub so that the opposed wallsof said, passage will assume a spiralformation and be adapt ed to closely engage theupperterminal coil of the spring 19; A securing bolt 28 is inserted upwardly through the hub 2,5 and through a lateral lug 29 upon the bracket 17, and a nut 30 is turned home upon the bolt against the said lug 29 so as4 to clamp the bracket against the 'under side of the lug. Itwill be readily noted that the Ylugs 16Yand 29 are at opposite sides of the body of the bracket 17 so that the links 15 and the lever 11 Ywill be alined transversely of the bed'with the Vsupporting springs 19.

The bracket 17 Ais provided at'its' outer end with a head'31 which is adapted Vto lit against Ithe end bar 32 of the bed bottom and extremity. This eye 34 receives the end of ythe side b-ar 18 which is preferably tubular,

so as to possess the required strengthV without excessive weight, and forms a rigid brace to maintain the alined bracketsl? at the head and foot of the bed in rigid spaced 32 extend transmembers of the bed bottom. To the said bars 32, I attach transverse series of con-i tractile springs 35, the. inner ends of 'said springs being engaged with the end bar-s of a rigid rectangular frame 36 which carries and supports a fabric,indicated at 37, which may be of coiled springs o-r loosely connected links or any other wellsknown material com` monly employed for bed bottoms. To reinforce this bed-bottom 'and maintain the central portion of the same in the same plane with its ends, I provide 'a central yieldable support consisting of'helicalsprings 33y secured at their lower ends upon av supporting or base lframe 39 and having their upper ends yengaged with or securedto transverse bars 40 which extend across the bed bottom at the center thereof. Suspending rods 41 areisecured at their centers` .to the frame 39 and at their. ends to the end bars 32 so that the iframe` 39 will be supported in fixed relation to the bed bottom, but the springs 38 will permit the center of the bed bottom to yield to weigh-t imposed thereon but will immediately return the bed bottom to its normal place after it has been relieved of the weight. yl thus prevent excessive permanent sagging ot the bed bottom while permitting the central portion of the same to yield to the weight of the person or persons recliningupon theV bed.

The construct-ion which has been described is intended more particularly for use in connection with metal beds. The spring-supporting structure, however, may be used upon wooden bedeteads and, inFig. 8, 1 have illustrated one slight modification of the supporting structure which will be found advantageous in applying the device to a wooden bedstead. In said figure, the reference numerals 42 indicate rails which are to be substituted 'for the rails 7 and support the equalizing levers. The ends of these rails are turned upwardly, as shown at 43, to pro vide short posts and in and between the upper extremities of these posts, l pivotally mount a hook or bracket 44, the said hook or bracket being constructed with an eye or sleeve 45 through which and the ends of the posts an attaching bolt 46 is inserted. This bolt 46 also serves to connect the posts 43 and a stop pin 47 is fitted inthe post between the upper extremities ot the same to prevent the hook or bracket 44 being swung inwardly beyond a predetermined point. When the device is to be applied to a wooden bedstead, the hooks 44 are engaged over the wooden side rails, indicated at 48, as shown in full lines in Fig. 8, the remaining portions of the apparatus being exactly the same as illustrated in the other figures of the drawings and hereinbetore fully described. When the device is to be shipped or to be set aside, the hookbrackets 44 are released from the bed rails and may be swung downwardly, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8, to positions between the posts 43 and between the ends of the rails 42, as will be readily understood.

'In the use of a bed embodying my present improvements. the usual mattress is placed upon the bed bottom 37 and the weight imposed thereon is carried by the springs 19, as will be obvious. The bed bottom will readily flex and conform to the position assumed by the sleeper so that it will be entirely comfortable in all positions of the user. Should the weight be shifted to one side of the bed bottom, the springs 19 at that side will, of course, be compressed so that the adjacent side bar 18 andthe brackets 17 carrying the same will be lowered. The descending movement of the brackets will, however, be imparted directly to the adjacent equalizing levers lltlirough the links l5 so that the upper ends of said levers will swing downwardly and the inner ends of the same upwardly. lnasmuch as the in'- ner ends or the levers at one side of the bed Aare connected by links 13y with the inner ends lot the equalizing levers at the opposite side of the bed, the movement of one set will be transmitted in both kind and Vextent to the o-pposite set of levers and, consequently, the unoccupied sideV of the bed will be lowered in exactly the same degree as the side receiving the weight.v Distortion of thel bed is thusprevented andthe life of `the bed bottom is prolonged. The means employed for securing the supportingsprings in place eiiectually and positively retain them in the positions in which they may be located so that the bed bottom will be supported in a level position and the leverage exerted by the moving parts will be uniform at all points.' llt will be understood that the side bars 18 are rigidly secured in the brackets 17 by brazing, welding, or by any other referred means and the said brackets 17 urnish a very strong and rigid connection between the said side bars and the end bars of the bed bottom as well as means for attaching and maintaining the proper relation of the support-ing springs and the links connected with the equalizing levers.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a bed, the combination of a supporting trame, rails secured transversely upon said frame, conical helical springs having their wider ends resting upon and bridging said rails, means for securing said ends ot the ksprings rigidly to therails, a bed bottom, means Jor connecting the bed bottom with the upper ends of the said springs, equalizing levers fulcrumed upon the rails, means for coupling the inner ends of the equalizing levers whereby they will have similar movement, and means for connecting the outer ends of the equalizing levers with the bed bottom at points spaced inwardly from the springs. Y

2. ln a bed, the combination ot a supporting frame, rails secured on said frame at the ends thereof, a bed bottom arranged above said supporting frame, supporting springs secured upon said rails at the ends thereof, bracketssecured to and depending from the said bed bottom, means for securing the upper ends of the springs to the outer sides of said brackets, a side bar rigidly secured in and extending between the lower ends of the brackets at one side of the bed bottom, equalizing levers carried by the rails, and links connecting the outer ends of said equalizing levers with the inner sides of the said brackets.

3. 1n a bed, the combination of a supporting frame, springs mounted on said frame at the corners thereof, a bed bottom disposed in the uppermost coil of the adjacent spring and engage and retain the extremity of sai-d coil, equalizing levers disposed below the bed bottom Vand having theirv inner ends connectedl for equal movement, and links connecting the outer ends of said 4levers with the inner sides of the said brackets.

' 4.' In a bed, the combination of a supporting frame, transverse rails secured on said `frame 'at the ends thereof, springs secured upon l the rails at the ends of the same, a bed Y bottom arranged aboveA the supporting frame yand the springs, brackets provided at their outerends with heads secured rigidly to the ends of the bed bottom and having their inner ends extending downwardly, side bars secured to and extending between the lower v inner ends of the brackets at the same side of the bed bottom, lugs projecting laterally from the opposite' sides of the upper portions of the brackets, means for securing the upper ends of the springs to the lugs Von the outer sides of the brackets, equalizing 

